Solar

The concentrated solar power has not progressed much in India. Of the seven plants allocated by the government in 2011, only three plants, of total 200 MW capacity, have been commissioned. Solar thermal applications like water heating, industrial applications and space heating and cooling has also not taken off in the large scale, as one would expect given the immense potential of these applications. To discuss all these issues and explore ways to scale up these technologies, we are organizing this one day conference will all concerned stakeholders.

Grid-connected solar power is a new and rapidly growing sector in India – from almost nil grid- connected solar power in 2009, the country will have 2.5 gigawatts (GW) by 2014, if all goes as per plan. It has already installed about 1.0 GW and the Union government plans to install 20 GW by 2022.

In public perception the renewable energy sector is a do-good sector that promises environment-friendly and affordable energy. It is for this reason that this sector gets overwhelming support from all sections of society. Civil society organisations, including the Centre for Science and Environment (CSE), have worked hard over the years to increase awareness about renewable energy and have pushed the government policy towards ambitious programmes.